2025 Pillars of Justice Award HonoreeDr. James Hildreth
Dr. James Hildreth is the president and CEO of Meharry Medical College, where he leads the technological, academic, and clinical transformation of the nation’s largest private historically Black academic health sciences center. Dr. Hildreth is one of the most influential HIV researchers in the world and a respected national figure in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, he was appointed to the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee that reviewed COVID-19 vaccine candidates for approval.
Dr. Hildreth holds an M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, a Ph.D. from Oxford University, and a B.A. from Harvard University. He has received numerous awards and recognition, including honorary degrees, for his scientific accomplishments, leadership, service to disadvantaged communities and mentorship of students and junior colleagues.